Key case



,MW ETHE a a y l F H m INVENTOR.

April 19, 1949.

N. J. DUYN KEY CASE Filed May 20, 1946 Patented Apr. 19, 1949 TED S TATES hATENT O F Fl CE 2,467,614 KEY GAS E Nick J. Duyn, Tucson, Ariz.

Applicationlviay 20, 1946, Serial No. 671,097

4 Claims.

This invention pertains to key cases and has for its objects,

First, the provision of a key case wherein the keys are pivotallyfastened within a case body and resiliently held in closed position bfrictional engagement with the sides of the case;

Second, the .provision of a key case folded of a'flat'metal stamping soas toprovide a flat pack age wherein key handles may be vpivotally heldwithin one end, and the blades retained by compression and "frictionWithin the other end togetherwith spring means for normally forcingthekeys to open 01 presented position when re leased from said"compression Thirdfthe "provision of a structure between the bladeholding ends of the case above mentioned wherieby'thekeyblades may bereleased from sai retaining compression by pressure simply applied bythe fin ers to the rear portion of the case.

"Other objects will appear hereinafter.

"I'attainthefore'going objects by means of the device illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a. plan View of a key caseembodying my improvements Figure 2 is aside elevational view of the backthereof;

Figure 3 h'sid'e elevation-of the front;

Figure 4 a plan view with the face sectioned oil showing interiorconstruction;

Figure 5 is an elevational View of the blade holdlngend showing detailsof the retaining and releasing mechanism, and

f-Figure -6 asection-taken in linet-t of Figure l.

simila'rnumeralsrefer-to similar parts in the several views.

The case body 2 is folded from a sheet metal blank to form a fiatpackage like container having a rounded end portion 3 substantiallyconforming to the shape of a key head and a rectangular shaped bladeretainer end portion 4.

Keys 5 and 6 are pivotally secured by a bolt 1 passing thru holes 8 inthe head portion and thru holes customarily made in the handle portion.

The parts of the case are proportioned so that it substantiallyencompasses the keys and the blades of the keys will be enclosed betweenplates of the blade retainer end 4.

In folding the blank from which the case is formed a web I0 is providedjoining the top plate H and the bottom plate l2 along the back. Thisprovides longitudinal rigidity for the body and acts as a definitespacing member between the plates. The web [0 is made sufiiciently widethe flared lips ll.

2 to provide adequate room for the key handles within the rounded endportion3, while the material is joggled or bent inward at [4 toward theblade ends to bring the plate portions closer together for adequategripping of the key'blades by spring pressure.

A spring I5 is-attached to web ill and extends arcuately inward tocontact the sides of the keys at a point inward from bolt 1. The springis shaped so that normally it tends to force keys out of the closure ofthe endpart of the case to the position indicated by dotted outline It.In this position the flank of either key may be easily and convenientlygrasped by the user and the key cleared for insertion into a lock.'The'keys may be said to be normally urged or biased to exposed or openposition by this spring.

When the keys are rotated into closediposition the blades are guidedinto place by the outwardly flared entrance lips !l and retained bythebeads ['8 which parallel the top or entrance edges of this. part ofthe case.

Inward swinging movement of the keys is limited by a tab'zll punched andbent upward from plate l2.

Inwardly extending lips !9 are formed along the rear edges of the bladeholdingportion of'the case body. These provide rigidity for-these rearedges as'well'as smooth finish.

Beads l8 along the inner face o'fthe forward edges'are 'forined byinward creases just behind They provide a retaining means for key bladeswithin the end '4 and enhance retention in addition to the frictioniprovided by the inherent spring pressure of the walls of the endportion 4.

Due to'the construction above explained'it will be apparent that thehandle portions of the keys are held in the rounded portion 3 of thecase body, free to rotate, While due to the joggles M, the blades arecompressed between the sides of the blade holding portion 4.

Tab 2!! is formed by a cut out portion in the lower plate which is bentupward with the upper edge becoming a fulcrum on which the bladeretaining portion 4 of the upper plate ll may be rocked or twisted on alongitudinal axis, as shown by dotted outline II by pressure applied atthe position indicated by arrows 2 I. When the bottom or compressionedge is compressed, as indicated, the forward or entrance edge of thisplate portion i is opened and the keys released from frictionalengagement with inner faces of the I plates or walls and released fromthe retention of beads l8. The manipulation necessary for release isvery simple and easy since it is only necessary to squeeze the rear edgeof the plates between thumb and first finger. All keys swing outtogether but I have found that the keys may be more easily selected,after their release, by sliding them between the thumb and finger thanwhen they must be selectively or independently released from the case.

Ordinanily the case is made from thin spring metal. However, heaviermetal can be used and in this event transverse slots 22 are cut into thematerial at approximately the juncture between the handle holding areaand the blade retaining area. This relieves the metal so that torsionalresistance is lessened.

From the foregoing it will be understood that I have provided an easilymade simple and effective key case which includes a minimum number ofparts. Some of which may be made in modified forms and still remainwithin the spirit of the invention. Therefore I wish tobe limited onlyby the following claims.

I claim:

1. A key case composed of parallel side walls of spring metal joined bya web shaped to provide a key handle holding area and a blade holdingarea; a bolt extending thru said handle holding area adapted to retainkeys between said walls so they may be swung with the blades between thewalls of said blade holding area; a spring attached to said web normallyurging said keys outward from said blade holding area; the wall portionsof said blade holding area afiording mutual resilient compression toretain the blades of keys swung therebetween and having an entrance edgeand a compression edge adjacent said web; a tab forming a fulcrumpositioned between said blade holding portions of said walls so thatcompression of said compression edge will open said entrance edge torelease key blades engaged therebetween.

2. A key case for flat keys having a body composed of parallel walls ofspring metal connected and spaced by a web along the back side thereof,a tightening bolt passing thru an end of said case to rotatively securekeys therein at their handle portions so that they may be swung betweenthe walls at the opposite end of said case body; said walls beinginwardly bent to form key blade retaining portions which compressiblyretain blades of keys therebetween while the handle portions allow thekey handles to swing freely; together with a spring attached to saidcase normally urging said key blades from [between said walls, and aninwardly extending tab formed on the blade holding portion of one ofsaid walls adapted to act as a fulcrum on which the opposite wall may betorsionally rocked; said wall portions having torsion relieving slotsextending transversely therein from each side at approximately theposition of the said bends; the said fulcrum being arranged so thatcompression of the edge of said blades opposite the key blade entranceedge will expand said entrance edges and release key blades therefrom.

3. A key case for a plurality of flat keys arranged side by side formedof spring material side walls substantially encompassing the keys, saidside walls being connected at the bottom at one end portion, means forpivotally mounting the heads of the keys in said end portion, means tobias the keys for outward swing through the top of the case on thepivotal mounting for the heads, the remaining portion of the side wallsbeing unconnected and relieved between the connected and unconnectedportions for flexibility, said portion of the side walls being spacedless than the width of the plural keys whereby the walls are expanded atthe top to receive and hold the key blades when swung therebetween byinherent spring pressure working against the ejecting bias, and anintermediate fulcrum carried by one side Wall to permit automaticrelease oi. the keys when the side walls are rocked by inward pressureat the bottom portions thereof.

4. A key case for a plurality of flat keys arranged side by sideincluding a single piece of spring material bent to form spacedsidewalls substantially encompassing the keys, said side wall comprisinga connected end portion in which the key heads are pivotally mounted anda flexible unconnected portion between which the key blades are held byinherent spring pressure, spring means to normally urge the key bladesfrom between the flexible side wall portion on the head pivot, and anintermediate fulcrum carried by one flexible side wall to permitautomatic release of the key blades for outward swing from the flexibleside wall portion of the case when the walls are rocked by inwardpressure at the bottom portions thereof.

NICK J. DUYN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,198,110 Fischer Apr. 23, 19402,279,449 Dieckmann Apr. 14, 1942 2,295,123 Mudrich Sept. 8, 1942

